I am going to need to make my remarks brief because there is so much information to share with you in this newsletter. First, thanks to all the staff for another banner year with great results! Second, I am proud to say that we will start the remodeling of our two Boston facilities in September, first at 145 South Street. This remodeling will be broken up into 5 phases and last six to nine months. We will post plans and dates before starting. 

 

Remember at all times, staff and patients come first!

 

Sincerely,

CEO/Executive Director
South Cove Community Health Center  

HHS Secretary Polanowicz Visits

The Secretary of Health and Human Services of MA paid a visit to South Cove Community Health Center at 885 Washington Street on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. South Cove is one of the many health centers in the Commonwealth that are on the Secretary's agenda to celebrate the National Health Centers Week -- August 10 to August 16, 2014.

 

Eugene and Mary Jo greet Secretary Polanowicz at the entrance

Secretary Polanowicz toured the health center with Eugene Welch, Eric Tiberi and Mary Jo Majors as well as Board President April Tang. He stopped by every department and chatted with numerous South Cove staff to gain insight on how the clinic operates. He first spoke to Frances Ma, the Social Services Manager who updated him on South Cove's efforts to enroll eligible patients for state and federal subsidized healthcare coverage. He greeted patients in the waiting area and front desk staff as he made his way to the pediatrics area where he shared a few light hearted moments with nurse Chia Mei Lu and Dr. Sherrie Zhang, the head of the department. Continuing on, he peeked into a prenatal class that was in session and greeted nurse Dong Huang and all the participants. He walked through the Adult Medicine pod and met Dr. Yuheng Ruan and was impressed by Dr. Ruan's long history with South Cove (Dr. Ruan was himself a pediatric patient at South Cove many years ago). He casually talked to nurse Pauline Wong and medical assistant Florence Tang before running into Dr. Rong Guan, the Medical Director, with whom he shared a few laughs like old friends.  He then visited the Ob/Gyn department, looked over the bulletin board that serves as a picture gallery of the hundreds of South Cove babies delivered over the years. The last stop was the lab department where Lab Supervisor Rosalind Hwang showed him the lab procedures and how South Cove's EMR and BIDMC's Lab system are synced to allow the lab staff to view results in real time and flag abnormal ones. During the tour, conversations ranged from a better working state website, to promoting the practice of having nurse midwives make deliveries in hospitals to why South Cove is South Cove - how the name came about. In meeting the staff members where many of who have been with South Cove for 15+ years, the Secretary jokingly remarked that they all seemed to have started at South Cove right out of high school!  

Secretary Polanowicz shares a laugh with Dr. Rong Guan

 

Following the tour, Secretary Polanowicz spoke and addressed the health center staff. Touching upon the week being the National Health Centers Week, the Secretary highlighted the history of community health centers and how the concept actually originated right here in Massachusetts with the first community health center in the country opening its doors in 1965. South Cove, founded in 1972, could be considered as one of the pioneers in the health center concept and movement. Currently, there are 49 community health centers across the Commonwealth serving over 875,000 residents, which account for 1/8 of the population in the state.   Community health centers provide not only medical services but also services that focus on pateints' wellbeing such as behavioral health, nutrition, and outreach services. Community health centers play a critical role in all communities, to him, they connect the dot between clinical care and non-clinical care. The Commonwealth has made so much progress in its healthcare system and delivery, he credits the support from community health centers for these accomplishments. South Cove truly feels like a family to him given the long tenure of so many staff members and the high patient retention rate. In concluding, he expressed his gratitude for the work of all community health centers including South Cove and was happy to visit and thank South Cove in person during the National Health Centers week.

 

Secretary Polanowicz then presented a proclamation to South Cove, where the week being the National Health Center Week, the Governor of Massachusetts also formally announced the week as the "Community Health Centers' Week" in the Commonwealth.

 

Secretary Polanowicz presents Eugene Welch and April Tang with Governor Patrick's Proclamation

Full content of the Proclamation:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

A Proclamation

His Excellence Governor Deval L. Patrick

 

Whereas Ensuring access to affordable, quality health care that meets the diverse needs of local communities across the Commonwealth is critical to our future; and

 

Whereas Community Health Centers play a vital role as local engines for healthier communities and a healthier Commonwealth; and

 

Whereas In Massachusetts, 49 community health center organizations provide essential primary and preventative health and wellness care at more than 285 sites to over 875,000 residents in often underserved and diverse areas across the Commonwealth; and

 

Whereas Strategic investments by the Patrick Administration in Community Health Centers have expanded public health initiatives to tackle chronic health issues, implemented payment reforms that reward quality of care over quantity, increased the use of technology, advanced substance abuse prevention and intervention programs, strengthened sexual education, supported smoking cessation efforts, and reinforced community wellness; and

 

Whereas Partnerships with Community Health Centers have resulted in over 90 percent of Massachusetts residents having a primary care physician; and

 

Whereas Community Health Centers are enhancing coordinated patient care practices that address not just physical health, but also the mental, social, nutritional, fitness and public health needs of patients; and

 

Whereas Massachusetts was the site of the nation's first Community Health Center, which opened its doors in Boston in 1965,

 

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim August 10th - 16th, 2014, to be,

 

Community Health Centers Week

 

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

  

August Moon Celebrated!

South Cove booth in Chinatown

South Cove has been a fixture in both the Chinatown and Quincy August Moon festivals for many years. Together with Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival, August Moon rounds up the Chinese holidays that the health center celebrates every year.

The Chinatown and Quincy festivals traditionally are held in back to back weekends, this year was no different. Entered its 43rd anniversary this year, the Chinatown community had its celebration on Sunday, August 10, 2014, organized and put together by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.

 

The Quincy festival was the following Sunday, on August 17, 2014. It was organized and hosted by the Quincy Asian Resources, Inc., it marvels that of the Chinatown one even though it is not as long-running (entering its 27th year). Both festivals featured programs and entertainment including lion dance, family activities, dance, live performances, vendors of Chinese arts and crafts and food sampling.

 

Being a major sponsor of the Chinatown festival and the presenting sponsor of the Quincy festival, Eugene Welch was on stage to say a few words welcoming all to the event.  The South Cove booth was right in the hustle and bustle of all that was going on. Staff members from various departments such as Adult Medicine, Ob/Gyn, member services, and WIC/Nutrition pitched in to help promote the health center and its many services. South Cove souvenirs were also given out to those that visited the booth.

 

Quincy August Moon Festival

This year being an election year, many running for offices also stopped by to introduce themselves and greet the voters, among them were Steven Grossman for Governor, LeLand Cheung for Lieutenant Governor, Warren Tolman for Attorney General, and Steven Tompkins for a 2nd term as the Suffolk County Sheriff.  Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, State Representative Donald H. Wong and Malden Mayor Gary Christenson also attended and spoke during the Opening Ceremony.  

The August Moon festival in both Boston and Quincy's is an event that has consistently attracted people of all cultural backgrounds. Combined, they draw close to 20,000 attendees every year and hundreds of businesses and organizations. South Cove is honored to be sponsoring the festivals that serve as a great symbol of our community's rich cultural diversity and celebrates the Asian heritage.

 

Annual Corporate Meeting

L-R: Stephen Tang, Board Member, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch and Eugene Welch

South Cove's 42nd Annual Corporation Meeting took place on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at the new Quincy location on 88 Holmes. This year's meeting was held in Quincy to unveil and showcase the new art work installed at the Quincy clinics.

 

Highlights of the meeting included touring the art collection, Stat Dragons medal presentation and SCCHC essay contest scholarship presentation.

 

The annual report outlined the accomplishments of FY 2014. First and foremost was embarking on the many changes brought about by the roll out of the Affordable Care Act insurance plans, which included preparing and training our staff, upgrading the equipment and modernizing the facilities. The major project completed in the last two years was the 88 Holmes Street building; we are extremely proud of this building as it is the "baby" of all our facilities both in the literal and metaphoric sense. Another notable, on-going achievement was using the EMR as a quality measure, allowing the same information to be accessible at all locations at the same time. Then there was the art collection of more than 85 prints, paintings and other art objects at both Quincy clinics. Each piece was carefully selected over a half year period to represent the health center's mission, our community and culture. It is our hope that the collection would bring many benefits: enhance patients' South Cove experience, make the working environment visually pleasing for the staff and promote and celebrate Asian arts and culture.    

 

Eugene Welch addresses the Board, Corporate members and guests.

Looking into the future, the health center has committed to a $3 million remodeling project that will bring a new Women's Health Clinic to the 145 South Street location, complete with 5 exam rooms, family planning, and mammography.

 

The health center continues to operate, in the black, four licensed, clinical locations serving over 30,000 patients with a team of over 250 employees.  

 

By the end of 2015, we hope to have over 32,000 patients and doing over 170,000 visits.

 

In concluding his Executive Director's report, Eugene expressed his deep appreciation for the support he received from all directions: staff, the board, and many community and business partners. He was proud of the entire team of staff that worked tirelessly to deliver healthcare to the medically underserved. South Cove ended the fiscal year strongly and is ready for whatever challenge that may be in store for us!    

 

Board, Corporate Members and guests at the Annual Meeting

South Cove Board of Directors FY 2015

The Board and corporate members fulfilled their fiscal responsibility by voting in 5 board members for a 3-year term from 2014-2017.

 

Officers serve a two-year term from 2013-2015.

President: April Tang

Secretary: Steve Ng

Treasurer: Cindy Chen

 

Newly elected Board Members: Thomas Birch, Herman Harry Lee, April Tang, Thuy Tran Leung and David Yee.

 

Continuing Board Members: Mai Du, I-Min Lee, Steve Ng, Alvin Wing, Nelson Liu, Meei Li, Cindy Chen, Chi Ma and Stephen Tang.

  

Boston Dragon Boat Festival

Jacquie Kay, Harry Lee and Pamela Lee pose with medals.

The annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival took place on Sunday, June 15, 2014 along both sides of the Charles River in Cambridge. Celebrating its 35th anniversary and being the longest running dragon boat festival in North America, this year drew unprecedented participations from local and out-of-state teams totaling 62!

 

South Cove Community Health Center was a participant at the 1st dragon boat festival and went on a hiatus but returned to the scene in 2002 and have entered a team every year since 2004. Though we always viewed winning as secondary to building comradery and having fun, a little keepsake at the end of the day wouldn't hurt! Persistence and perseverance finally paid off in 2012 as the team had a breakout performance and made South Cove history by winning a Silver medal in Division D. The following year, to dispel any notion that previous year's performance was a fluke, the team paddled their hearts out and bettered the result by coming in first in Division D, which marked the first time ever the health center had won a Gold medal!! So, what would be the expectation for this year's team? Just as we thought that the best was to equal the gold medal performance, Stat Dragons 2014 outdid themselves yet again by winning not one, but two medals in two divisions!! The team came in 2nd in the Health Division and 3rd in Division C. Though we missed the gold, it was important to note that the 3rd place finish was in Division C - a division featuring faster heats than those of Division D where the Gold medal was won last year. It is great knowing that Stat Dragons 2014 had what it took to compete with faster teams this year and came away with a medal! We cannot be more proud and thrilled of the collective effort and the fighting spirit Stat Dragons displayed.

 

2014 South Cove Stat Dragons in action!

Stat Dragons 2014 team members: Andrea Leung, Andrea Zhu, Anthony Rindone, Ben Tang, Bopha Tith, Christina Ho, Corey Greene, Harry Lee, Helen Quach, Jacquie Kay, Jennifer Tran, Jin Zeng, Jonathan Hsu, Kenny Lee, Zhanglin Kong, Kwei Kwong, Tom Leung, Peggy Leung-Strle, Matt Kung, Pamela Lee, Thomas Yee, and Yunji Lee.

Sponsors: Eugene Welch and John Roach, North East Reprographics. 

Behind-the-scenes support: Mary Jo Majors and Julie Chou.

  

Welcome & Goodbye

 

Welcoming:

Ob/Gyn: Dr. Lily Wu was born in China but US educated and trained. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in human biology at Brown University and continued on to medical school at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She just recently completed her Ob/Gyn residency at BIDMC.   Her research interests include global health, IVF treatments, reducing health disparities, improving access to health care, family planning, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer. She started on August 18, 2014.

   

Pediatrics: Having her sights set on becoming a doctor, Melissa Huang pursued a Combined Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine (BS/MD) Degree Program and received the dual degree in just 6 six years. After graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Life Sciences at Kent State University, Ohio, Melissa received her M.D. at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio.  She completed her residency training at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Huang speaks conversational Cantonese and Toisanese. Dr. Huang's interests outside of Pediatrics include volleyball, reading, cooking, coffee, board games and spending time with family members. Dr. Huang joined South Cove on July 14, 2014.   

 

Saying Good-bye to:

Dr. Choon Weng Chan has been an internist and an infectious disease specialist since 2006. He was an integral part of the Adult Medicine team for a long time and his departure will certainly be missed by the health center, the staff with whom he worked and most definitely the hundreds of patients who rely on his expertise and humanity in taking care of them. Thank you Dr. Chan for all these years of service. We wish you & family all the best in California.

 

 

Susanne Leung: one of the longest serving staff of South Cove has retired after more than a quarter century! It is with mixed feelings that we bid farewell to Susanna Leung, a CNM in our Ob/Gyn department since the 1980s.  As Eugene said, with Susanne's retirement, so comes an end of an era. Those that have been around long enough would know that Marty Hackett and Susanne Leung were the two nurse midwives of South Cove that delivered South Cove babies at BIDMC. They represented a team that cared for tens of thousands of women. With Marty's passing in 2012 and Susanne's retirement, a chapter in the South Cove Ob/Gyn book is closed.

  

Upcoming Event: Please RSVP  

 

At the Annual Corporate Meeting, all guests were treated to a tour of the newly unveiled art collection at both the Hancock Street and the Holmes Street clinics. It was so well received but due to time constraints, many guests were not able to fully enjoy themselves. Therefore, we are inviting them back as well as those who could not join the first time around to join us on September 17, 2014 for a grand tour of the collection.

 

South Cove Quincy Art Collection Exhibition:

friends and staff of South Cove are invited.

 

Please RSVP to Helen Quach at hquach@scchc.org by September 8, 2014.

 

 

Contest Winning Essays Published!

L-R: Eugene Welch, Joyce Huang, Stephanie Choi, Kevin Zhu and Matilda Ho

In 2012, as a way to celebrate the health center's milestone and the lives of many that the health center has touched, an essay contest was announced. The Asian Healthcare Foundation of Massachusetts, which provides funding for the scholarships, also made a decision to have the essay contest be a yearly fixture for the next 10 years through 2021.

 

Over the four decades, South Cove has served many multi-generational families and played a big part in the wellbeing of these families. With the essay contest, we wanted to achieve two goals: 1 to hear from their perspective the impact of South Cove and 2. to give back to the community and the future generation.

 

We are pleased to announce five winners this year and share with our readers their winning essays on the South Cove website ; the essays are also accessible by clicking on their names below.  Each one of them tells a unique, heartwarming story that chronicled their personal growth and struggles.  We invite you to take some time and read them at your leisure, it would be time well spent!   

 

Congratulations to Stephanie Choi, Matilda Ho, Joyce Huang, Stephanie Yanand Kevin Zhu. 

  

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640 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135